Audiphone



C. FENSKY June 18, 1929.

AUDIPHONE Filed Sept. 2, 1924 Arum r01? 6/1/21? [6 Ewe/n Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES CHARLES FENSKY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUDIPHONE.

Application filed September 2, 1924. Serial No. 735,290.

My invention relates to improvements in hearing devices and has for its primary object an audiphone which is located entirely within the inner and outer ear so as to be practically invisible, and which is provided with a charge of radium so that diseases of the inner ear may be readily treated with radium.

In the drawings I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my device viewing the same from the side adjacent the head;

Fig. 2 is a similar view enlarged and with parts broken away showing the radium container in position;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2 with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of device viewing the same from the side opposite the head;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge view viewed in the direction of the arrow 4 with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view of the radium container and deflector showing the same in position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental section showing a modified form of container; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the radium container and deflector as used in the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the construction of my device I employ a hollow body having a member 9 which may be of any desired shape preferably arcuate, and which is designed to lie snugly within the outer ear. The portion 10 of this member which is preferably enlarged and is designed to close the orifice leading to the inner ear. The member 9 has projecting therefrom the tubular member 11 which is in communication with the interior of the member and which is designed to extend into the passage leading to the inner ear. The member 9 is also provided with an opening 12 which is formed in one wall, preferably so as to lie next to the head of the wearer when the device is in use. This, however, is not essential as the opening may be otherwise located either on the outside as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or within the portion 10.

Secured to the wall of the member 9 opposite the opening 12 is a container 13 which is hollow and which is filled with radium salts or radio active material 14 of a dosage not exceeding three micrograms. This pro duces a very mild quality of radio activity. The container 13 is constructed of material which will allow any radio active emanations to pass readily therethrough; there are many materials on the market used for this purpose, any materials which are noncorrodible may be employed.

The container 13 is preferably partially surrounded by a convexshield or deflector 15, which is made of material that offers resistance to the passage of the radio active emanations and is for the purpose of directing or deflecting practically all of these emanations to the head of the wearer instead of permitting some of them to escape through the outside wall of the audiphone. By varying the shape of the deflector the emanations can be concentrated or directed in any predetermined direction so that that portion of the ear needing the treatment will receive most of the radio activity. It is of course to be understood that it will be practically impossible to so concentrate the radio activity as to direct it to one point.

The container 13 is preferably cylindrical and may be secured at one end in the device, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, or it may be secured on its side as illustrated in Fig. 7. The container 13 is preferably left open at one end, and after being filled with the radio active material, this open end is closed by means of a closure 16 preferably a screw. My purpose in thus making the container, is so that it can be filled after it has been secured within the audiphone, which is preferably done by soldering, as I have found that the heat necessary for the soldering operation affects the radium salts, they losing practically all of their radio activity and remaining dormant or non-active for a period of about five days, after which faulty or partial radio activity is observed which gradually increases for about thirty days, after which the salts again regain their full activity, and it is to save the loss of this time that I secure the container to the 'audiphone while empty and then fill it with the salts and close up the open end of the container.

While the soldering method is preferable, I may also secure the container in place by means of a spring clip 17 as in Fig. 7 By using this construction of securing the convarious points within the member 9 or in' the tubular member 11.

I may also if desired, omit the container and secure the radium or radio active mate rial directly to the audiphone or secure the same directly within the shield 15 without departing from the spirit of my invention.-

The radio active material used is what is termed low dosage radium the dosage not exceeding three micrograms as it has been found that this can be applied for great lengths of time without causing the radium burns which occur when more active material is used.

My audiphone is especially useful in treating all manner of diseases of the inner ear, especially such as ulcers, cat'arrh of the ear, andthickened ear drums. In the latter case, it is believed that the radio active emanation coming in contact with the ear drum,

will in time restore it to its normal condition. In all events this radio activity has a beneficial stimulating effect on all such conditions and in a short time improves the hearing considerably.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is A hearing device comprising a hollow arcuate member closed at both ends and provided intermediate its ends with an open- "ing, said member adapted to lie wholly within the outer ear, a

globular enlargement integral with one end of said arcuate memher, a tapered hollow" tubular member carried by said enlargement and projecting at right angles to said arcuate member, said tapered member opening into the tubular member, a deflector located on the inside of said arcuate member opposite said opening, and a removable container giving off radium emanations carried by said deflector.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES 'FEN SKY. 

